Operation Sindoor: India activates S-400 air defence missile system after strikes in Pakistan, PoK

The S-400 missile system is considered the most powerful weapon in the Indian Air Force fleet. Its air defence system is capable of thwarting any possible air attack in India.

Range between 40km to 400km

The S-400 missile system has been deployed, especially keeping China and Pakistan in mind. Its range is between 40 to 400 km. An agreement for this S-400 missile technology was signed between India and Russia during Russian President Putin's visit to India in October 2018. At present, this missile technology is considered to be the most powerful defense system in the world.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and briefed him on the actions taken, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC said.

India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pak-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“India’s actions have been focused and precise. They were measured, responsible and designed to be non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani civilian, economic or military targets have been hit. Only known terror camps were targeted,” a press release from the Embassy of India, Washington DC said.

Indian Embassy in Washington said that terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 in a brutal and heinous attack.

India's actions came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack triggered widespread outrage in India and abroad.

"These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered," the Indian Army said in the statement.

"We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable," it said.

The top military brass of India was closely monitoring the operation, people familiar with the matter said.

In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29 gave the armed forces "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack. He  also emphasised the national resolve to deal a "crushing blow to terrorism".